LONDON, September 15 (Reuters) – The United Kingdom sought to reassure on Tuesday the companies operating in the Falkland Islands, after the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, threatened to impose sanctions on companies involved in economic activities linked to the British overseas territory.
In guidance published on the government’s website less than two weeks after Milei’s threat, the United Kingdom said that it supports all legitimate economic activities on the islands and defends the right of the local inhabitants to regulate their economy and to exploit their natural resources, including hydrocarbons.
Milei had said he would strengthen measures against companies operating in the Falkland Islands or with ties to them, intensifying pressure as Argentina pursues its sovereignty claim.
The U.S. President, Donald Trump, suggested that Washington could reconsider its traditionally neutral stance in the dispute over the Falkland Islands. Since then, Argentina has accelerated its efforts to target companies involved in oil drilling activities near the region.
“The position of the UK government is that Argentina has no right to exercise jurisdiction over the Falkland Islands nor to apply its internal laws there, nor in relation to any companies or individuals who participate in commercial activities on the islands or who are linked to them,” the United Kingdom said in the guidance.
It also added that it did not see a legal basis for courts outside Argentina to apply measures taken against such companies.
The United Kingdom said that previous Argentine measures had been in effect for many years, but had not prevented the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands from developing a prosperous economy, adding that it would continue to support the islands and to make its position clear to Argentina.
The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
